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Latest “Red Meat Study” Doubly Flawed

April 16, 2013

No, meat is not unsafe—nor is L-carnitine.

A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine associates the amino
acid L-carnitine, found in red meat, supplements, and sports supplements,
with the risk of heart disease. Here are some examples of what the media said
about it: The Daily Mail (UK): “Red meat nutrient used in weight-loss and
muscle-building supplements could cause heart disease”! The Dallas News: “Put
down that steak! (and energy drinks, too); the carnitine in these foods may
increase risk of cardiovascular disease”!

Here is the gist of the study:

A diet high in L-carnitine promotes the growth of certain bacteria that
metabolize the amino acid; during that metabolization, an organic compound
called trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is produced in the blood; and
this compound increases risk of heart disease.

The study further states that vegetarians and vegans have different gut
bacteria, which do not produce a burst of TMAO after consuming L-carnitine.

There is a lot to find fault with in this study.

First, there’s the question of the study participants. Most of the study was
done on mice, though there was a human component—a tiny sample of only six
people, five meat-eaters and one vegan. That’s right, their conclusion that
vegetarians and vegans have different gut bacteria that don’t produce a burst
of TMAO after consuming L-carnitine was based on just one individual.

We also don’t know how healthy the five meat-eaters were in this study. The
study found that the red meat eaters did not produce TMAO after a course of
antibiotics. This suggests that these subjects’ immune systems were already
damaged—not that all meat eaters’ are. At the same time, it is still unclear
whether TMAO production is caused by eating red meat at all (this was just an
assumption), and whether raised TMAO levels actually cause heart disease.

Second, the idea that L-carnitine causes heart disease conflicts with other,
better evidence. A large and recent meta-analysis, published in the journal
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests that L-carnitine is helpful for heart
disease, not a cause. This meta-analysis specifically tested L-carnitine on
hard outcomes in humans who had already experienced acute myocardial
infarction, and found that L-carnitine was associated with significant
reduction in death from all causes and a highly significant reduction in
ventricular arrhythmias and anginal attacks following a heart attack,
compared with placebo or control. In other words, L-carnitine, far from being
harmful to the heart, actually heals it!

None of the media reports we saw bothered to mention any of the positive
effects of L-carnitine—even those mentioned in the study itself. Its
essential function is to transport fatty acids into our mitochondria, which
may be why it is so beneficial to heart patients. It also helps with kidney
disease and male infertility, reduces fat mass, increases muscle mass, and
reduces fatigue. In elderly patients, it also helps energy metabolism and
improves neurotransmitter function in the brain.

And if L-carnitine is actually good for us, what about meat? That’s still
controversial. But other studies don’t support the conclusion that it harms
us. An extremely large meta-analysis published by Circulation (over 1.2
million participants) found that fresh and unprocessed red meat consumption
was not associated with increased heart disease risk, stroke, or diabetes.

In addition, this one, much-hyped study makes no differentiation between
different types or sources of meat. As we have discussed frequently in the
past, industrialized factory farm meat is very different from organic, local,
grass-fed meat in its nutrient composition. Meat from CAFOs—that is, confined
animal feeding operations—contains twenty times the amount of omega-6 fatty
acids (which are associated with inflammation, arthritis, and cancer) than
healthier omega-3 fatty acids, have much more fat marbling, and may be full
of antibiotics.

Grass-fed beef has nearly seven times more omega-3s than omega-6s, so eaten
in moderation, it offers healthier levels of essential fats. Moreover,
grass-fed beef is lower in total fat, and higher in vitamin E complex, beta-
carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and CLA—and
these differences may have a tremendous impact on both the types of bacteria
in the gut and the levels of TMAO produced. But of course, we won’t know
about that, because this was never even thought about in the study.

What none of these overhyped media reports—not to mention the study itself—
take into account is the reality of bioindividuality. No one diet, and no one
selection of supplements, should be advocated for everyone. Only a balanced
diet tailored to each individual body’s personal needs will ensure one’s
health in the long run.

About Me

Hi Folks, My name is Larry Nelson. I'm 67 years old, I live in central
Texas and I'm enjoying my retirement.
In May of 2007 I was diagnosed with cancer in my prostate. I wasn't
real surprised because my mother died from the 3rd battle with cancer.
I was told that, on a scale of 1 to 9, I was rated 7. They said that I
had a very short time to live unless I have my prostate removed and
follow up with Kemo-Therapy.
I tried to explain to the uroligist that I had been studying cancer
treatment on the internet and that I had decidedto go the alterative
route. I had to repeat myself 3 times to get the doctor to acknowledge
my comment. He told me that it wouldn't work.
It is now February of 2012, I don't have cancer problems that I know of.
I have lost friends to the medical treatment of cancer and I had decided
that I wasn't going to go through the HELL that they did before they died.
What I want to accomplish with this blog is...I want to let as many people
know as I can that there is a much better way to deal with cancer. There
is many people like me that have beat cancer with the alternative approach
to beating cancer.